Really excited to share a special exhibition I'm part of, at the 'White Cottage Gallery' at Retford Park, Bowral, a beautiful National Trust property in the NSW Southern Highlands. 

Fortuna x Quattro (Luck x 4)

 A tri-generational group exhibition of four artists of the Luck family; renowned Australian bird and wildlife artist James Luck, his sister, Melbourne based artist Jacinta Payne, their niece Elise Abotomey, an emerging portraiture line artist, and a posthumous retrospective celebrating the life and art of Don Luck, their father/grandfather. 

Morning Light - Don Luck

Don Luck was an Australian artist who painted until the age of 81 after which a stroke left him with limited use of his right hand.

A traditional landscape painter, Don also painted seascapes, still life and equine portraits. But it was his love of the Australian countryside that spoke loudest, evident in his depictions of many scenes from around the outskirts of the Southern Highlands where the family lived for many years.

Mostly self-taught, Don loved to paint en plein air. Ever striving to capture the sunlight on the mountains and on the trees, which became one of his specialities. Gum trees, old tin sheds and cattle feature in many of his works. Don was primarily an oil painter, but also used watercolour, inks, acrylics and charcoal. 

Don passed away in May 2021. 

 
'Approaching Storm, Wildes Meadow' - Don Luck

James Luck is an award winning and highly respected painter of Australian birds and wildlife. He began a full-time career in art at the age of sixteen in the early 1980's.

He has exhibited both in Australia and internationally since 1985, including at the prestigious Birds in Art exhibition in Wisconsin USA, the Bell Gallery in Berrima, Balmoral Galleries Melbourne, and the Wildlife Artists Society of Australasia.

James’ love of native flora and fauna is reflected in his exquisite work.  He spends much time in the bush studying native wildlife to capture their habits and their environment in his artwork.


'Cape Barren Goose' - James Luck

James has contributed work to many publications including the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, the cover illustration for Dr David Suzuki’s ‘Wisdom of the Elders’ and a stamp for the Australian Koala Foundation. He was also featured in Penny Olsen's book 'Feather & Brush, 300 years of Australian Bird Art', (of which a new edition has just been re-released by CSIRO publishing in April 2022.)


Supurb Blue Wrens - James Luck

James has been a finalist in many art prizes including Rembrandt Award for best exhibit, WASA Exhibition, Melbourne Australia, Runner up James Hardie Wildlife Art Prize, Brisbane Australia, Meyers Acquisitive Award, WASA Exhibition, Melbourne Australia and his work appears in collections throughout Australia and internationally.

Jacinta Payne (nee Luck) 

Living in Melbourne for the past 20 years, Jacinta’s art practice began during a childhood spent in the bush, growing up on the edge of Morton National Park in the NSW Southern Highlands. Spending countless hours immersed in nature, and absorbing knowledge from the collective creativity of the family.


'Dawn Blush' - Jacinta Payne

An intuitive mark maker and painter of remembered and imagined places, Jacinta’s atmospheric and compelling landscapes express her commitment to preserving the earth’s precious resources, and to raise awareness of the need to protect the environment.  


'Fire & Flood' - Jacinta Payne

Many of the artworks Jacinta creates are made using reclaimed or upcycled materials. She has exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions and art shows. Jacinta’s work has found its way into private collections around Australia and internationally, as well as public installations around Melbourne.


'Moon Dance' - Jacinta Payne

Elise Abotomey

Creating line art that often takes form in abstract portraits, Elise studies her sitters both visually and intuitively. She explores her subject through line and movement to express her connection to the people around her and those she interacts with. Elise’s portraits illuminate the diversity and complexity of human nature and portray the idiosyncrasies of each of her subjects.

Elise lives in the Southern Highlands and has just completed a double degree in International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts.



Contact details:

Jacinta Payne 
Email - jacintapayneart@gmail.com
www.jacintapayne.com
Social media: (Instagram / Facebook) @jacintapayneart 

James Luck 
https://jamesluckartist.wixsite.com/james-luck-artist

Elise Abotomey
Email - eabotomey@gmail.com
www.eliseabotomey.com 
Social media (Instagram) @ea.arts 

Entry to the exhibition is free.

Click here for a catalogue of works in the show.